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FEATURE ARTICLES

Solving Screen Printed Edge and Surface ProblemsSometimes in the screen making, or screen printing, process problems can arise that have to be solved immediately. After all, time is money! Those problems may occur without any known cause, resulting in more time spent on determining what happened and how to resolve it.

The Science of Screen ExposurePrint quality and a stencil's lifetime are directly related to the exposure time. A more step-by-step fundamental approach to this basic method provides a better understanding, allowing for fewer errors and improved stencil performance.

Why is Screen Printing Still Relevant in 2017?A question that has been asked more often in our print technology than any other since the invention of inkjet printers in 1996 is, 'Why is screen printing still relevant?' The answer is...

Screenprinting 101 Part IIThese articles are written with the beginner in mind, many times there are several answers to the same problem. In this format, the answer comes from my years of experience in the screenpriting industry both as an equipment manufacturer and first and foremost, a screenprinter. The information presented in these articles is general in scope and written with these basics in mind.

Separations for Garment Screen PrintingDon't be a vector snob, see how I do 1500 - 1800 separations per year in Photoshop. Read on to learn that we don't need any more vector snobs to get the job done.

How to Know When to Turn Down a Garment Printing JobAsking the right questions is the first step to avoiding the job from hell. Do not agree to a job that is foreign to you until you know all that it entails, including the processes you'll need to use, what supplies you will require, and how much time and effort you will have to put into it.

Screen Printing UV Special Effects - Thick Deposit Graphics and TexturesThis article provides a processing guide for addressing printing thick deposit effects to simulate textures or add 3-D structure to the print surface from creation of the artwork to pre-press to printing and finishing. Doing your homework can make a big difference in effectively overcoming the obstacles to successfully (and profitably) printing these effects.

Eliminate Printing Defects Caused by Static ElectricityFor the digital and screen printing industry, the most common problems associated with static are dust attraction, printing defects and shocks to operators. Learn how to identify and mitigate these real-world challenges.

The 21st Century Color MatcherIf you're in the business of selling color images, you want to take advantage of everything you can to make those images the best they can be with the tools you have available. This is why today's graphic imaging company needs a digital color manager.

Stencil Washout Techniques, Part 2Washout will impact your print results. Follow along in this conclusion to learn the rest of this important sub-process of washout techniques to will help you create the best print results. One more variable to be controlled and repeated to attain consistent tonal-range reproduction and print quality.

Stencil Washout Techniques, Part IStencil development or washout seems simple and easy, and not a variable worthy of concern or extra time. But washout often becomes an important sub-process that will impact print results. Just like any other variable, it must be controlled and repeated to attain consistent tonal-range reproduction and print quality.

Computer to Screen (CTS) TodayAre you waiting for film to disappear before you change? Inkjet CTS systems have a very low-cost consumable, and it isn’t going away for a long time.

Stretching Your Own Screens: Does It Make Sense for Your Business?Stretching screens in-house can help boost production, reduce downtime and give your shop the flexibility to take on a wider range of jobs. But it also requires a considerable investment, and can divert precious resources from your core operation. Is it right for your shop? Take a look and see.

Screen Preparation: A Cornerstone for Successful Screen PrintingUnderstanding the wide range of mesh preparation products, and when to use them, can be a challenge. This guide will clearly explain the product similarities and differences, as well as how to properly use mesh preparation as a part of your process improvement program.

Halftone Stencils: Getting Film Quality with Direct EmulsionsFilm stencils are widely praised for their ability to accurately reproduce fine detail such as the thousands upon thousands of tiny dots that make up a halftone. The key to success lies on the print side of the screen, where the smooth surface of a film stencil provides a tight seal with the surface of the substrate. This seal sharply restricts ink flow, which results in sharply defined prints.

Printing Halftones (Part Two): Two Critical Factors in Halftone StencilsWe've come to the point in the process where we need to start thinking about creating a halftone stencil. The qualities that make good halftone stencils are substantially the same as those of any other stencil used in finely detailed printing, though as always, we have to be prepared to meet higher standards of accuracy.

Trying to Make Sense of the Graphics Market MessUnderstanding your business and how it fits into the evolving U.S. graphics industry may well be vital in your survivial in the changing marketplace involving screen printing, wide-format imaging and your sign shop. Part 1 of a 3 part series.

Making Halftone Positives for ScreeningIn this third part of the Halftones series we take a look at the factors tht influence how we create halftone artwork for screenprinting. A dot is not just a dot you know.

What You Need to Know About Pollution Prevention in Your ShopProtecting yourself, your employees and your community are just a few reasons why you want to be sure that your shop is compliant with all of the current safety regulations. One of the most important areas of safety that is often overlooked is the ventilation of your print shop.

The Digital Opportunity in Wide Format PrintingScreen printers are rightly proud that they are part of an ancient tradition that is as much an art form as carrying out an industrial process. While digital inkjet printing has none of those familiar associations, it does offer technical and economic solutions to the very real challenges faced by today's screen printers.

Squeegees: How to Use Them - Part 1: Setting UpThanks to the previous article on squeegees: 'Squeegees: How to Choose Them', you, no doubt, own the perfect squeegee for the type of job you want to print. Now we're going to show you how to put that squeegee to work.

The New Printing and Decorating Growth Using SublimationHi I’m John Benedetto and it has been over four years since I have written an article for SignIndusrty.com. My articles on screenprinting are still available on this site and are still read to this day. I have been building screenprinting machines and training for the last 10 years.

Squeegees: How to Choose ThemSqueegees are used in every form of screenprinting from the solitary printer pulling prints by hand to the most sophisticated automatic cylinder presses. In fact, if a squeegee isn't involved, it just isn't screenprinting.

Exposing Direct Emulsions: Finding Your Exposure UnitWhen you get into exposing your own screens one of your most critical jobs will be finding a good exposure unit. The first thing you’ll discover is that an exposure unit will probably be one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your shop. But this is one piece of equipment you don’t want to skimp on because it can have a major impact on your bottom line.

UV or Not UV in ScreenPrinting InksIn recent years probably no area of screenprinting has developed faster than UV printing. As a commercially viable technology its history is barely three decades old, but today it competes readily with the solvent-based screenprinting inks

Getting Into Screen InkIt's not an exaggeration to say that ink is the lifeblood of the screenprinting industry. So, once you've mastered fundamentals like getting ink to stick to your substrate, it's really worth your while to get to know a little more about ink itself.

Getting into InkIt’s not an exaggeration to say that ink is the lifeblood of the screenprinting industry. So, once you’ve mastered fundamentals like getting ink to stick to your substrate, it’s really worth your while to get to know a little more about ink itself.

Expose Yourself Continued: Coating to SuitWhen we talk about direct emulsion stencils, the inevitable question arises: How thick a coating of emulsion do you need to get good results? The complete answer to that question depends on a number of factors.

Mesh Part II: The Tension RisesIf you look back over the history of screen printing, you can see a definite parallel between growing awareness of the importance of mesh tension and the use of higher tensioned screens.